Julia Catherine (Hary) MacRostie

Julia Catherine (Hary) MacRostie. Born June 12, 1926, in Blough, Paint Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Died May 18, 2021, in Largo, Pinellas County, Florida. Survived by her loving daughter Karen Elder, son-in-law Richard, and two grandsons Douglas Dylan and Zachary Calum, of New York, New York. Also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, as well as great grandnieces and grandnephews located across the United States. Predeceased by her parents Mike Harry (1969) and Katherine (Lucas) Harry (1983), brothers Louis and Michael (2008), and sisters Elizabeth (Bette) Bardsley (2011), Yolanda (Jean) Messing (2014), and Helen Wieczkiewicz (2021). Also predeceased by her childhood friends Margie Spinelli (2016) and Helen (Visinsky) Gruber (2020).

    Julia (Mom, Aunt Julie, Grandma) grew up in Cairnbrook, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, graduated from Shade Township High School (1944), and ventured out to Detroit with a girlfriend at 18 years of age. Soon after, she joined her sisters in New York City and embarked upon a secretarial career with a media distribution company with offices overlooking the famed Rockefeller Center and its ice-skating rink. She relocated with her company from New York City to the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, and later retired after 35 years of service as the executive assistant to the company’s president. During her retirement she enjoyed golf as a member in several ladies’ leagues, volunteering as wardrobe supervisor at a local theatre company, getting creative with friends in a crafting circle, and spending summers and holidays in Windham, New York, with her daughter and her family. She also was an avid reader, movie watcher, and gardener. She generously gifted her watercolors to family members and friends who admired her work in landscapes, floral and other still-lifes, and portraits. A fabulous cook and gracious hostess, a single mother who defeated the odds to raise her daughter and send her to college, and an inspiration to all to live and love life to the fullest.

    She has returned home with committal alongside her parents in St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Central City, Pennsylvania. A memorial mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church. RIP.

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